Dump truck hit sign over I-440 in Raleigh, slowing traffic for close to 1 hour
A dump truck hit a metal structure and sign over Interstate 440 in Raleigh on Friday, closing both directions of the highway for a surprisingly short period of time.
Posted — UpdatedA spokesperson from the Raleigh Police Department told WRAL News the dump truck had its bed raised when it hit the sign before noon near Exit 3 for Hillsborough Street.
According to police, the truck did not stop after the crash but was later found nearby. It is unclear if the driver will face charges.
Photos sent to WRAL News from viewers showed a gantry, which is a large metal structures that holds overhead highway signs, bent with debris and pieces of sign all over the road near Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard.
Initially, all westbound and eastbound lanes of I-440 were blocked in the area. At 2:45 p.m. the westbound lanes opened to traffic. By 3 p.m., the westbound lanes had also reopened.
According to a WRAL News crew at the scene, before I-440 reopened, the problem was bigger in the eastbound lanes, where some people were waiting outside their cars.
The NCDOT worked very quickly to reopen the road well before rush hour despite the extensive damage and debris.
Matthew Koscielny, a driver for U.S. Foods, said the sign was hit about one minute before he passed. He told WRAL News he stopped because the sign was too low for him, adding other cars kept passing until emergency responders closed the road.
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